As gun violence continues to spread through American schools in the form of horrific mass shootings, the Republicans insist on coldly holding the line against common sense gun reform in service of their calloused NRA donors and the lobbying efforts of the firearm manufacturing industry.
Today, in a tweet that perfectly exemplified how unhinged the GOP has become on the gun issue, a candidate for Kentucky’s Secretary of State joked that he wanted to shoot Democratic Congressman John Yarmuth.
The threatening tweet was in response to Yarmuth sharing a photograph of himself proudly wearing a pin depicting his F rating from the NRA, a symbol of his opposition to their bloodthirsty agenda.
I’m so proud of my @NRA rating, I’ll wear it on my chest. I invite my colleagues to join me in wearing our F ratings every day until the GOP finally stands up to the gun lobby and helps us pass common sense gun safety legislation. Find me to get a pin. #MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/sOECS54QOK
— Rep. John Yarmuth (@RepJohnYarmuth) March 19, 2018
The Republican candidate, Carl B. Nett is a former Secret Service Agent, reports The Hill. He tweeted out that he had been trained to aim for “center mass” and that Yarmuth should move his pin, presumably so that Nett would have an easier target while aiming his gun at the sitting lawmaker.
“Move it over just a bit. I was trained center mass,” Nett tweeted, before realizing what a bad idea it was and quickly deleting the message. Unfortunately for him, screenshots of the violent joke had already spread.
Bad press might be the least of Nett’s problems though. The FBI is now investigating the threat. “FBI Louisville is aware of the tweet and is working with our law enforcement partners to determine the best course of action,” a spokesman for the bureau told The Courier-Journal.
In a pathetic attempt at damage control, Nett tweeted that he had defended the lives of numerous Democrats in the past – as if that somehow absolves him of threatening violence on Yarmuth.
Friends, I protected Barack Obama, John Kerry, John Edwards, Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, and Bill Clinton. I voted for none of them. I would have DIED for any of them. My oath is to the Constitution. ALL politicians should keep that oath, first and foremost.
— Carl B. Nett (@realCarlNett) March 20, 2018
Unfortunately for Nett, a Twitter user was able to dredge up an old tweet in which he implied that he stopped serving as Secret Service for President Obama because he didn’t deserve Nett’s protection. In Nett’s words, he isn’t a “bullet sponge for just anybody.” The tweet is a disgrace. A man like this doesn’t belong anywhere in government, and he should suspend his campaign immediately.
.@realCarlNett bragged about protecting @BarackObama in response to this controversy, but in Dec. 2016 he tweeted how he "bailed" on protecting #Obama because he didn't want to be a "bullet sponge for just anybody." pic.twitter.com/etLBL5hzVJ
— Philmonger (@phillipmbailey) March 20, 2018